I love new divers - but whats the definition??

[spectrum]

Which leads to the question of what defines a non-newbie - when I show up at a dive operators site and he wants to divide the group into experienced and inexperienced divers what criteria should he / I use?

If you feel confident that you understand the dive at hand and are experienced in what it entails then you are an "average diver" for that dive. You could extend that to wondering if you are comfortable making the dive with a buddy known to be less experienced.

I think a lot of it is a gut check but that's the best way I can describe a train of thought.

Pete

 

[Dive-aholic]

Along that same line, I know instructors (and regular divers as well) who overinflate their numbers so incredibly that if they even sat down themselves and calculated what tey claim, they would see how impossible and ridiculous their claims are. They probably count their pool sessions, but even then, according to some of the ones I am thinking of...they would have had to do 4 dives a day everyday for the last four years or so. As a point of reference, full-time divemasters who dive everyday for a living (in Cozumel for example) only log an average of 500 - 800 dives a year! That's 2 to 4 dives a day 304 days a year (taking into account that they get one to two days a week off. If they dove 4 dives a day, 304 days a year then they would log ovr 1000 dives...but even that is not realistic due to low season, occasional illness, etc.

My point is that it doesn't do anyone any good to lie about how many dives they have...it's pretty easy to tell when you're embellishing!

And in response to Ben, I've done some dives well over 100 times and like Preston, I try to dive other locales and envirnonments when I get the chance to. Still, 90% of my dives have been right here in Cozumel. I haven't yet done any cold water diving, but I"m hoping to change that next year and dive the Channel Islands.

So true! How could I forget? I remember seeing an instructor here on the Board go from 100-199 dives to 200-499, then 500-999, and now 1000+ in about 4 months. That would be about 9 dives a day, every day! If the profile just changed from the first range to the last range, I'd think it was just forgetfulness. But it changed step by step. I think that not only were pool dives being counted, but also baths and showers! And maybe even handwashing!!! :no

 

[IceIce]

Did you do 100 dives or 1 dive 100 times?

Good point.

May I add few questions?
I guess that if somebody's answer is mostly yes then maybe they can be consider out of newbie group.


Have you ever :

1. Dive salt water?
fresh water?

2. In wet suit?
dry suit?

3. Cold water?
Warm water?
Ice?

4. Strong current (> X knot)?
Drift dive?

5. Back roll?
Giant stride?
Other method?

6. Boat?
Dinghy/small boat?

7. Cave (recretional)?
Wreck (recretional)?

8. Have trouble and solve it?
Have equipment failure and solve it?

9. Help another diver?

10. Dive wall?
muck?


My 0.02 cent. : )
Feel free to add.

 

[altitudemike]

I am an AOW diver with a TROX card & have logged over 100 dives but I still consider myself a new diver if I'm at a new site or only dove it a couple times. I think it's a comfort level. I have a buddy with around 30 dives who is a pro. Just as him!